Product Design and Development - At Issue

Don’t Bet On It

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:23:13 GMT

The other day I came across an article online called “Top 25 Biggest Product Flops of All Time.” Not surprisingly, about 2/3 of the “winners” were food-related products. Inevitably, people are going to be extremely picky about what they put into their bodies, which puts the pressure on food manufacturers to really think through their decisions. And yet, no matter how much time and effort is put into product development and branding, sometimes things just go horribly, terribly wrong.

Getting More Than Satisfaction From Your Relationships

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:20:38 GMT

I want to ask you to look at a widely accepted business relationship from a little different perspective. As a decision-maker, you are constantly interfacing with numerous vendors who are requesting your time, attention, consideration, and ultimately, a purchase order. Eventually, you must make decisions regarding the best possible value regarding equipment and services required to either expand or maintain operations at your facility.

The $435 Tube Of Lip Gloss

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:46:17 GMT

I have never stolen anything in my life. It’s not something I consider particularly notable, simply because I feel it should be intuitive; a default. I was raised by hard-working parents who themselves were raised by folks who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. I don’t think I could so much as palm a tube of lip gloss without picturing my immigrant great-grandparents in their somber, black and white photos, eeking out a life with their bare hands.

Greenwashing — I've Been Had

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:40:48 GMT

There aren’t many feelings worse than that of being duped, especially if you have an elevated estimation of your own intellectual powers. (I tested at 29 on my ACT exam, I swear.) Most of the time, I like to think that I’m pretty shrewd when it comes to marketing schemes and statistics being twisted by the most keen of spin doctors, distinctly because as an editor — trust me — I’ve seen it all.

5 Engineering Concepts Worth More Than $900K

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:15:25 GMT

Earlier this week, Product Design & Development published a news item regarding the concept of a space elevator, and a $900,000 NASA-prize winning attempt that was able to climb about 3,000 feet of the 22,000-mile distance that would be needed for it to actually arrive at the targeted destination. This struck me as an interesting idea, but one that lives only on the periphery of the real world.

Up, Up And…No Way

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:47:20 GMT

Maybe it’s my slight problem with claustrophobia, my extreme fear of heights or my stubbornness to keep things under my control; but I’m a little skeptical. While the idea reaps many benefits (and just looks super cool), especially for science fiction obsessed fans that have the light sabers ready at hand, I’m stuck thinking about all the catastrophic possibilities that could occur if some of the Carbon nanotubes decided to take a break from being extremely robust molecules.

Martian Pie Waiting To Be Baked

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:40:17 GMT

Admittedly, the angle I was originally going to take when battling David’s anti-NASA sentiment was an examination of how the agency’s innovations affect our daily lives. There’s too many to count, but I’ll throw in satellite dishes (so we can sit around not thinking about how awesome NASA is), fire-retardant suits for firefighters (so we can bash on NASA even after our house burns down), smoke detectors (see previous quip), and invisible braces (so we aren’t embarrassed when talking about how NASA is a waste of taxpayer money).

How To Google Your Way Into A New Job

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:27:16 GMT

Nowadays, simply being a chemist, a programmer, an engineer, etc with a lot of publications and hard-core technical degrees is not going to get you a job. To get a job in this economy, you need to let people know that you are an expert, what you are an expert in, and why anyone should hire you over thousands of other very smart PhDs with 15-20 years of experience.

Her WineRack

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:44:31 GMT

For some reason, I have a feeling that a woman isn’t going to purchase a $30 dollar bra that isn’t from Victoria’s Secret just so the dirty little whirlwind can sip on grape Kool-Aid during a college football game.

Banging My Head Against The Wall

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:34:25 GMT

I sometimes wonder if stress has become too closely aligned with some sort of manic productivity that we’ve all lumped in our pie-in-the-sky ideals of success.

What A Piece Of Junk

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:22:29 GMT

Professionally, I’ve always considered myself a fairly progressive and forward-looking individual. Not the smoke and mirrors forward-looking that you can find at the bottom of nine out of 10 “news stories” that cross the wires, but the type

United We Stand – Divided We … Run?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:03:45 GMT

It’s not a new problem, per se. The need to improve energy usage trends and implement more efficient approaches has been a relevant topic long before Al Gore invented Power Point presentations or President Obama campaigned on a pledge to overhaul our national grid. What is new is the debate surrounding the slew of potential solutions. What priority should they be given? What approach is deserving of government subsidies? Should supply and demand be the ultimate weapon on choice in thinning out this herd of options?

Haunting Distractions

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:05:58 GMT

I can only imagine the sort of obstacles engineers and manufacturers face when trying to think of the next “big thing.” Whether in electronics, automotive or the mechanical industries, engineers and manufacturers have the stress of satisfying customers on a daily basis. If they disappoint, it could affect their reputation as whole, and send companies into a downward spiral of never ending ridicule and criticism.

Winning A Fight With Tabasco (And Other Diversions)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:03:05 GMT

If you were able to ride any animal, real or fictional, into battle, which would it be? The eventual winner, by group vote, was Falkor—the giant flying dog from The NeverEnding Story. The games are certainly without limits.

Yeah, But Tesla Is So Much Cooler

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:02:53 GMT

At the risk of losing my membership card in the middle class, white republican club, I’m going to go out on a limb and admit that I like the technology and environmental benefits of E85, as well as its soon to be developed ethanol brethren, as a fuel source for my vehicle. However (cue the Evil Galactic Empire music that marks Darth Vader’s entrance), I rarely use it because of the cost disadvantages, and I’m not alone.

Sweet Side of Recessions

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:10:16 GMT

I'm currently house hunting. In the brief few months I've been searching, I have seen everything from shiny new condos to 150-year old Victorians that come without seemingly important amenities such as walls and kitchens, and yet are not short on bonuses like litter box and cigarette odors. What all these properties have in common, however, is that they have dropped their asking prices significantly in the course of just a few months. Bad news for sellers and the economy overall, but excellent news for someone looking to buy a house.

Updated: Throw A Book At Him

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:18:38 GMT

Think twice before you move forward with corporate espionage. Violent crimes are one thing, but mess with someone’s bottom line and they throw the book at you.

Enough With The Positive Thinking

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:23:39 GMT

Before I decided to study literature in college, I took the typical freshman approach: I changed my major again and again, based on the whims of my current fascinations, causes and favorite professors. It’s scary looking back, considering I could have based my life’s career goals around an affinity for a class that happenstance scheduled following my afternoon latte boost.

Getting Through The Recession: Customer Focus Stimulus Plan v. 1.3

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:10:55 GMT

Businesses that are struggling from the financial problems in the current economic slow down are under pressure to evaluate daily operations for new cost efficiencies. Particularly in the manufacturing sectors were profitability has been hit hard, companies that produce consumer products, commercial products, vehicle products, and even capital equipment have had to cut jobs and cut unnecessary costs to stay alive let alone competitive.

You’re Such A Nerd

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:31:20 GMT

A lot of you read my column from last week on my “eye candy” experience at Design and Manufacturing, and provided some excellent feedback. A few of you agreed with some of the points I made, while others blamed me for victimizing myself and saying, “While men are responsible for their own actions, it is you who control the hormone level in their blood. You can make it very difficult, and that is being a "jerk" too.” Emphasis was placed on the importance of dressing attractively and not provocatively when entering a professional environment.

Help, I’ve Been Nerded

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:05:07 GMT

Call it a marketing gimmick if you’d like, but rather than an inkless ballpoint or laminated pocket calendar, Faro Technologies was attracting attention at Quality Expo 2009 (a part of National Manufacturing Week September 22-24 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL) by pulling people into the booth with a digital camera and the eight latest additions to the nerd clan displayed on flat-screen televisions.

Thank You For Flying

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:34:45 GMT

It’s not a premise that resonates with everyone, but when asked I try to explain that while I’m not crazy about the travel, I really enjoy what I do once I get to wherever my duties may take me on a given day. I can remember hearing similar comments when I first started out and not understanding them. I relished the opportunity to travel. Unfortunately the perks that come with those silver medallion emerald perks flyer driver mileage programs just can’t keep pace with the known and never-ending surprises associated with navigating the wonderful gauntlet of airports, rental car counters and hotels.

Moderating The Death Panel

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:31:59 GMT

Appropriately, I write this blog from the comfort of bed — pillows stacked up behind me, tissue on my right, orange juice on the left, laptop whirring on my arched legs in the beautiful Gaylord Hotel in Orlando, FL. Considering that I flew here specifically to be at the Emerson Global Users Exchange (in amazing Floridian weather whilst my native Wisconsin is getting pummeled by rain and even hail), I couldn’t help but think what a waste.

Starbuckling Down

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:49:09 GMT

Perhaps it’s because it’s one of the most visible brands out there, but Starbucks has been all up in my face in this recession. I remember vividly when I knew this whole economic collapse was real… and it was literally the day last summer I read in the paper that Starbucks—one of the most ubiquitous and iconic brands of my generation—was going to close the doors on several hundred stores.

Being A Real Tool

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:35:42 GMT

The clichés regarding greater functional efficiencies, during both the design and production steps of product development, are well ingrained in our heads. We continue to embrace the charge of DFMA best practices and white papers. We acknowledge the potential impacts of Lean Design and an overall Six Sigma approach to our projects. It’s easy to get on the bandwagon and laud their implementation. However, at the end of the day it’s not about what these practices can do, but how we make them our own in realizing what they will do.

Self-Replicating Nano-Robots

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:52:12 GMT

Yesterday marked 20 years since IBM researcher Don Eigler became the first person to move an individual atom, using the tip of his custom-built scanning tunneling microscope. Needing to show that he could do it with a high level of precision, Eigler later arranged 35 xenon atoms in the shape of his company’s logo. Besides the great publicity for IBM, this demonstrated the atomic-level manipulation necessary to build molecular nanomachines first proposed by Richard Feymann in the 1950s.

Kaizen For Sore Feet

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:19:29 GMT

As I approached the task of packing for Design & Manufacturing Midwest this week, my primary area of focus was on how best to maintain my overall comfort throughout these long days. What would provide adequate support, but without any substantial heel? How important was fashion on the fashion vs. comfort graph? As a runner, my feet have been through a lot, and when possible, I can’t play fast and loose with their best interests.

I Am Woman. Why Should I Roar?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:28:32 GMT

Last week I had the pleasure to join some of my PD&D comrades at the Design & Manufacturing show in Rosemont, IL. I had the chance to see what’s new in the industry, scout out potential column ideas for PD&D, and work on my pitching skills to help promote our publication. I learned a lot about the industry and the ins and outs of the business, but I was quite disappointed on how the experience ended.

The Innovation Wasteland

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:50:28 GMT

Innovation’s Wasteland by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director While it’s not the first time a trip to Starbucks has helped propel my work, it usually has more to do with the caffeine kick then any topical inspiration. However, a visit last

Champagne & Beer

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:14:24 GMT

It wasn’t a particularly life-shattering statement, but as a fan of idioms I was immediately drawn to attention. With it, Alex Davern, National Instruments’ (NI) CFO and senior vice president of manufacturing and IT operations, had succinctly summed up our nation’s propensity to overspend.